Kitzhaber’s spokesman Tim Raphael confirmed Tuesday that the five-member OLCC board is considering hiring Marks to become the agency’s executive director and will vote on his nomination at its board meeting next week.

Steve MarksFile

Marks has a long history with the governor, dating back to before Kitzhaber’s 1994 first gubernatorial campaign. He served as one of Kitzhaber’s closest advisers during his first two terms, eventually becoming chief of staff.

Recently, Marks has been working on the governor’s regional solutions program. He has never run a state agency, however.

The state liquor agency, which buys and sells virtually all spirits in Oregon, and enforces alcohol rules, has been without a permanent director since late 2012, when former director Steve Pharo was forced to retire.